Mountain Lions – be prepared!

South of State Park Road, May 22, 2019

We are seeing mountain lions and bobcats very often now. Over the 20 years we have lived here, I rarely saw cats, the past couple years, it is very often. I’ve seen several just from my desk walking up the road or across the orchard. Those lions are protected and have no predators anymore so are really multiplying.

Recently one was by the front door when another neighbor family arrived home. It was pretty aggressive and didn’t want to move, finally sundered way only to return a few minutes later.

When I saw the photo above I said out loud, “this could have been a child”. That deer is about the size of a couple dozen kids who enjoy playing outside on this beautiful mountain. Can’t be too careful.

The photo reminded me of Doc and Anne’s three mountain lions that jumped their 10 foot fence to take off with their chickens. Glad Doc was able to grab his gun on the way out the door to defend his livestock. Doc and Anne said they haven’t had lions in their yard since. They think it is important to make the visit unpleasant and loud so the lions might teach their young to stay away from that diner…

From: Mountain Neighbor – photo above

“… What an amazing picture I got on my game camera 2 days ago just 25 yards from my cabin. Three years of clearing brush and trying to improve the habitat for deer, just to have this guy poaching on our land. Doesn’t he know it’s not deer season. He don’t care. I read a mountain lion kills a deer or other large animal every week. No wonder there are no deer around here.”

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There is a Female cat with her two cubs in the area. They are a year old now. The cubs do not know what to fear, so making loud noises and waving things over your head to appear larger works. There have been reports of children scaring off mountain lions. The cubs are close to adult size right now and will stay with their Mother for up to two years. That is how long it takes for them to be successful hunters. This Family started out with three cubs. Remember that very few cats live to become adults in todays age and also live a very short life. Please support our native species.

I think it’s important to remember we are the interlopers here not them. Part of the lure of living in the wild land interface is seeing wildlife. Most of them steer clear of humans, but if you have farm animals, they will be attractive to them. Always keep an eye on children in the outdoors. I carry a whistle and a walking stick when hiking and avoid hiking by myself.

I believe the deer population and the mountain lion population will keep each other in check. Too many deer will overgraze; too many mountain lions will starve if there are not enough deer. This winter’s bountiful rains have been a boon to wildlife, trees, the water table, and humans.

We have hiked and camped in bear country over the years, and the same cautionary guidelines apply. We captured an image of a mountain lion on a trail cam a few months ago and see numerous deer 🦌 on our property on Crestline. In the best environment, all life can thrive.

On Tue, May 28, 2019 at 6:56 AM Palomar Mountain News wrote:

> Bonnie Phelps posted: “South of State Park Road, May 22, 2019 We are > seeing mountain lions and bobcats very often now. Over the 20 years we > have lived here, I rarely saw cats, the past couple years, it is very > often. I’ve seen several just from my desk walking up the road or” >

Bonnie – If you don’t have keystone predators, the ecosystem is damaged. Here is one article (of many, if you google the topic): https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/science/too-many-deer-on-the-road-let-cougars-return-study-says.html There are also studies in Yellowstone after the reintroduction of wolves that show a much healthier population of elk and habitat. This would also apply to the deer. This is a forest, and the cats belong here. Small children need to be supervised and aware. If you take a small child to the zoo, and watch the response of predators, they view small kids as potential prey (lions, tigers, etc.). Liz Zerbe

On Mon, May 27, 2019 at 9:56 PM Palomar Mountain News wrote:

> Bonnie Phelps posted: “South of State Park Road, May 22, 2019 We are > seeing mountain lions and bobcats very often now. Over the 20 years we > have lived here, I rarely saw cats, the past couple years, it is very > often. I’ve seen several just from my desk walking up the road or” >